Powder-bag clamp.



n. s. HA'YS.

POWDER BAG CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30.1918.

Patented Mar. 4,1919.

45 4.1 of Fig. 2, with the body members in UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DONALD S. HAYS, F WASHINGTON,'DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

POWDER-BAG CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7 Patented M3 4, 1919,

Application filed July 30, 1918. Serial No; 247,466. (FILED UNDER THE ACT or MARCH 3, 1883, 22 STAT. n, 625.

To all whom it may concern: I V

Be it known that I, DONALD S. HAYS, captain, Eng. R. 0., acitizen of the United States, stationed at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented an Improvement in Powder-Bag Clamps, of which thefollowing is a specification. v I The invention described herein may be used by the Government or any ofits oflicers or employees in prosecution of work for the Government, or by any other person in the United States, without payment of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to clamp devices adapted to secure the mouths of fabric containers, more particularly applicable to the containers for explosives employed in military mining operations, and likewise adapted for use-in connection with floating mines for harbor defense, and has for one of its objects to simplify and improve the construction and reduce the expense of such containers.

Another object of the invention isto provide a device of this character in which the parts are retained in coactive'relation and prevented from being separated and lost when the devices are being shipped or stored, or when removed from the container. By this means the parts will not become separated and lost, but retained at all times in convenient position for instant use.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in certain novel features of construction as. hereinafter shown and described and specifically pointed out in the claim; and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred application of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved device;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation' Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the coacting body members;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line closed relation.

The improved device comprises coacting body members 10--11, preferably of hard Wood and of a size sufficient to withstand the strains to which they will be subjected when in use. The body members will vary in length and size to correspond to the capacity of the container to which they are applied, but ordinarily the body portions will be about 8% long and 1i-x transversely. -The body members vwill be arranged face to face with registering channels or grooves 12 in their confronting faces. The body members l0'11'areprovided near one end with alined apertures 1314 to receive a clamp bolt '15. vThe-clamp bolt has ahead 16 at one end and screw threads 17 at the other end to receive a wing nut 18. Bythis means the members 10 11 are free tov swing laterally upon the bolt as a pivot, and may be clamped together by actuating the wing nut. At their other ends the members 10-11 are provided with .outwardly opening slots indicated at 1920, the slots being in alinement when the members 1011 are disposed face to face or in parallel relation. Pivoted at 21 in the slot of one of the members, for instance the memseparated to permit the device to be applied to the article to be supported, and then clamped tightly upon the article by turning the pin 22 toextend through both of the slots and actuating the wing nuts. The bolt l7 and-the pin 22 are upset at the terminals of their threaded portions to prevent the wing nuts from being entirely removed from the bolt and the pin. By this means the portions will not become separated when the device is not in use. Thus the danger of losing any of the parts is obviated.

The containers to which the device ismore particularly applicableare constructed from .water-proof fabricwith contracted mouths or openings. The contracted mouth is inserted between the members 101l when the latter are separated, and then by clamp ing the members 1 011 against the intervening fabric the mouth of the container is effectually closed and the contents prevented from escaping, and moisture or other foreign matter prevented from entering.

The improved device is simple in con- 7 struction, can be quickly applied, and eflectually holds the mouth of the container in closed position.

When employed in connection With floating and submergedmines the material forming the mouth of the container Will preferably be folded over upon itself to" form a plurality of thicknesses against Which the members .10l1:-:are clamped, to insure a Water-tight closure for the container. The

channels 12 provide openings for the passage of the fuses'tor firing the contents of the container, or to provide for the passage of the conductors when the contents 50f the container are to be exploded byelectrically operated devices. 7

It is essential in devices of this character that asfew parts as possible be employed and also constructed at the least possible eX- pense, as the devices are used but once" and destroyed by the explosion of'the' contents of the container. Another essential requirement is that the device shall be adapted for 7 quick application and'vvith the least possible Copieswf this patentmay be obtained for movements of the operator. Another essential-requirement is that the device shall be compact, easily operated, and adapted to be "nested or packed Within a small space for transportation or storage. The improved device 'e'fie'ctually meets all of these" condiends,-and.meansior adjusting said members bodily toward each-other. Y

In testimony whereof 'll have "hereunto affixed my'si'gnatu-re, this 30th day ofJuly, 191. 8.

DONALD sH-AY-s.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioneroff-Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

